Vaping & Vapor Products

Vapor products, also known as e-cigarettes or vape pens, represent a market that has grown exponentially since they were first introduced in the mid-2000s. They are typically equipped with a battery, a heating device and a cartridge containing nicotine, flavorings, and solvents. The nicotine solution is heated to produce an aerosol that is inhaled or vaped. There are more than 400 different brands of e-cigarettes and more than 7,000 flavoring chemicals.

Local, State, and Federal Policy regarding Vapor Devices

In the fall of 2015 (with amendments in the spring of 2016), the Board of Health approved a Vapor Devices ordinance meant to prohibit vaping in public places. In the spring of 2016, the Governor signed into law Senate Bill 6328 which allows the state to license and regulate all vapor products. In the summer of 2016, the FDA distributed a “deeming rule” allowing them to regulate the contents of e-juice as well as vapor product distribution under the tobacco control act. For more information, see the following:

IMPORTANT ISSUE: Nicotine Poisoning

E-juice (the liquid inserted into the e-cigarette and heated) contains a highly concentrated form of liquid nicotine. This liquid nicotine is toxic and can lead to rashes if it comes in contact with the skin. If the e-juice is ingested, a person can become very ill with severe vomiting. If a child drinks e-juice this can lead to death. There have been several documented cases of death in small children who accidently drank e-juice. The new WA law requires all e-juice to be in child-proof containers, but parents should still be cautious and keep their e-juice and other vapor paraphernalia out of reach of young children. Click here for the Washington State Poison Center Annual report on e-cigarettes

IMPORTANT ISSUE: Exploding Batteries

Between 2014 -2015, there have been approximately 130 battery explosions nationwide. No one understands the exact cause or reasoning behind these explosions. For some unknown reason, some batteries explode, unfortunately leading to serious burns on the skin of the people using them. Click here for the Seattle Times article about exploding e-cigarette batteries.